Elements of Fiction

September Book Report Outline

I. Introductory paragraph

A. Attract the reader’s attention and give a brief summary of the novel.

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

1. Title of book_______________________________________

2. Author of book______________________________________

II. Plot

A. Exposition______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
B. Initiating Event__________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

C. Rising Action____________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
 D. Climax_________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

E. Falling Action___________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

F. Resolution______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

III. Setting

A. Where and when does the story take place? ________________________

______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

B. Is the setting important to the story, why or why not? _________________

______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

IV. Characters

A. The main character of my novel is_________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

B. I know this is the main character because____________________________

_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
 C. Describe the following about the main character :

1. Physical description__________________________________________

__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

2. Personality_________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

3. Change the character goes through_____________________________

__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

V. Theme

A. The lesson/moral of this novel is______________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

B. A brief explanation of how this lesson/moral was given to you, the reader. Did a
character learn a lesson? Did a character teach another character a lesson, or
was this moral learned through the life experience of the character. Give a brief
explanation of the process.

VI. Conclusion

Leave a final impression on the reader; tell them how you liked the novel and why.
Should they read it, why or why not?